Carriage for patching, splitting, and/or guiding fiber optic cables

ABSTRACT

A carriage is configured to be mounted in a fiber distribution cabinet. The carriage includes a carriage body having a front end, a rear end, a first side, a second side, and a back wall cooperating to define a cavity. A top wall is disposed at the front end of the carriage body, and a plurality of side walls extending from the back wall to the top wall. The top wall, the side walls, and the back wall define a plurality of openings at the front end of the carriage body. The top wall includes a plurality of slots, and each the plurality of slots being associated with a respective one of the plurality of openings. The plurality of openings are sized and configured to receive a fiber optic component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/932,456, filed Nov. 7, 2019, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to optical communicationnetworks. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to acarriage for patching, splitting, and/or guiding fiber optic cables thatcan be used with a fiber distribution cabinet.

BACKGROUND

There are many types of FTTx networks. For example, FTTx networksinclude fiber to the curb (FTTC) networks, fiber to the premises (FTTP)networks, fiber to the business (FTTB) networks, fiber to the home(FTTH) networks, and fiber to the antenna (FTTA) networks. The requiredcable management components, for example, cable management spools andcable guides, and fiber optic components, for example, adapter plates,splitters, and splice cassettes, depend on the particular FTTx networkapplication. These cable management components and fiber opticcomponents are typically housed within a cabinet or enclosure.

The particular configuration of these cable management components andfiber optic components within the enclosure can vary greatly dependingon the required components and the physical location at which thecomponents are being deployed. For example, some applications requirepreterminated splitter modules, some applications require patch cables,and some applications require a combination of splitter modules andpatch cables. However, space in fiber distribution cabinets isrestricted. Further, when a conventional module that contains multiplepatch cables or multiple splitter modules needs to be replaced, all endusers serviced by the conventional module experience a serviceinterruption while the entire module is repaired or replaced.

Accordingly, there is a need for a universal carriage that permitssplitting and/or patching of fiber optic cables and provides guides forthe fiber optic cables such that the same carriage can be customized andused in a variety of FTTx applications. It may also be desirable toprovide a carriage that permits fiber optic cables and/or fiber opticcomponents to be added and/or removed from the carriage withoutaffecting other fiber optic cables and/or fiber optic components thatare carried by the carriage. It may also be desirable to provide acarriage that can be mounted in a fiber distribution cabinet in a zeroU-space arrangement.

SUMMARY

According to various aspects of the disclosure, a carriage is configuredto be mounted in a fiber distribution cabinet. The carriage includes acarriage body having a front end, a rear end, a first side, a secondside, and a back wall cooperating to define a cavity. A top wall isdisposed at the front end of the carriage body, and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the back wall to the top wall. The top wall, theside walls, and the back wall define a plurality of openings at thefront end of the carriage body. The top wall includes a plurality ofslots, and each the plurality of slots being associated with arespective one of the plurality of openings. The plurality of openingsare sized and configured to receive a fiber optic component.

In some aspects, the plurality of openings are sized and configured toreceive a fiber optic splitter or a fiber optic adapter.

According to various aspects, the carriage is sized to receive an LCduplex adapter or an SC simplex adapter.

According to some aspects, the cavity is configured to receive fiberoptic cables and/or fiber optic components.

In various aspects, the carriage includes a plurality of fibermanagement features extending perpendicular to the plane of the backwall and being disposed in the cavity, and the plurality of fibermanagement features are configured to route fiber cables to and from thefront end of the carriage.

In some aspects, the slots are sized and configured to allow fiber opticcables to be inserted into and/or removed from the opening through theslot, while preventing the fiber optic component from being insertedinto and/or removed from the opening through the slot.

According to various aspects, the opening is configured to receive thefiber optic component in a direction from the rear end of the carriagetoward the front end of the carriage.

According to some aspects, the opening is configured to receive thefiber optic component in a direction from the front end of the carriagetoward the rear end of the carriage.

In various aspects, the carriage includes a second top wall spaced fromthe front end in a first direction parallel to a plane of the back wall.

In some aspects, the second top wall includes a plurality of tabs spacedfrom the back wall in a second direction perpendicular to the plane ofthe back wall.

According to various aspects, the tabs are separated from one another byspaces that are sized and configured to allow fiber optic cables to beinserted into and/or removed from the opening through the slot, whilepreventing the fiber optic component from being inserted into and/orremoved from the opening through the slot.

According to some aspects, the second top wall is configured tocooperate with the side walls to securely retain the optical fibercomponent that is inserted into the cavity through one of the openings.

The foregoing and other features of construction and operation of theinvention will be more readily understood and fully appreciated from thefollowing detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with accompanyingdrawings. Throughout the description, like reference numerals will referto like parts in the various embodiments and drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary carriage in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the exemplary carriage of FIG. 1 in a firstexemplary use configuration.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the exemplary carriage of FIG. 1 in a secondexemplary use configuration.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the exemplary carriage of FIG. 1 in thirdexemplary use configuration.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the exemplary carriage of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the exemplary carriage of FIG. 1 in a fourthexemplary use configuration.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the exemplary carriage of FIG. 1 in a fifthexemplary use configuration.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the exemplary carriage of FIG. 1 in a sixthexemplary use configuration.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary fiber distribution cabinet containingthe exemplary carriage of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 illustrates a plurality of the exemplary carriages of FIG. 1mounted to a rear wall of a fiber distribution cabinet in a zero U-spacearrangement.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate the exemplary carriage of FIG. 1 mounted toa rack chassis of a fiber distribution cabinet in a zero U-spacearrangement.

FIG. 12 illustrates a plurality of the exemplary carriages of FIG. 1mounted to a rack chassis of a fiber distribution cabinet.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an exemplary splitter in accordancewith various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another exemplary splitter inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the exemplary splitter mounted to afiber distribution panel in accordance with various aspects of thedisclosure

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the exemplary splitter in a standaloneconfiguration in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Although certain embodiments of the present invention are shown anddescribed in detail, it should be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theappended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way belimited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof,the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and aredisclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present invention.

As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, asused in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents, unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 depict an exemplary embodiment of acarriage 100 according to various aspects of the disclosure. Thecarriage 100 is configured to be mounted in any enclosure or cabinet, aswill be discussed below.

The carriage 100 includes a carriage body 101 having a front end 102, arear end 104, a first side 106, and a second side 108. The front end 102includes a plurality of openings 110. In the exemplary carriage 100shown in FIGS. 1-7, the front end 102 includes seven openings 110.However, it should be appreciated that the front end 102 could have morethan or less than seven openings. In the exemplary carriage 100 shown inFIGS. 1-6, each of the openings 110 is sized and configured to receivean SC (Subscriber Connector) simplex adapter, which is the same size asan LC (Lucent Connector) duplex adapter, for example, via aninterference fit, a snap-fit, or the like. Such an opening 110 alsopermits passage of fiber optic patch cables and/or a fiber cableharness, for example, an IFC (interfacility fiber cable assembly)harness. However, it should be appreciated that the openings 110 couldbe configured with any desired shape and size and/or one or more of theopenings may be shaped and/or sized differently than others of theopenings.

The carriage 100 includes an interior cavity 112 in which fiber opticcables and/or fiber optic components are disposed. The cavity 112 isdelimited by the front end 102, the rear end 104, the first side 106,the second side 108, and a back wall 114. In some embodiments, a top 116of the carriage 100 may be open to allow access to the fiber opticcables and/or fiber optic components disposed therein. In someembodiments, the carriage may include a cover (not shown) that isremovably attachable to the top 116 of the carriage 100 to allow accessto the fiber optic cables and/or fiber optic components disposedtherein.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the carriage 100 includes a plurality of fibermanagement features disposed in the cavity 112. For example, thecarriage 100 includes a mandrel 120 extending perpendicular from theplane of the back wall 114 into the cavity 112. The mandrel 120 can be afull circle, as shown, or a partial circle configured to guide fiberoptic cable along a desired path within the cavity 112. The mandrel 120may include one or more fingers 122 extending from the mandrel 120 nearthe top 116 of the carriage 100 in a direction parallel to the plane ofthe back wall 114. The fingers 122 are configured to retain the fiberoptic cables in the cavity 112. The carriage 100 may include one or moreadditional guides 126 that extend perpendicular from the plane of theback wall 114. The guides 126 may also include one or more fingers 128extending from the guides 126 near the top 116 of the carriage 100 in adirection parallel to the plane of the back wall 114. The fingers 128are configured to retain the fiber optic cables in the cavity 112, aswill be discussed in more detail below. In one embodiment, there are twoguides 126 that fan out the fiber cables for directional distribution.However, more or less guides 126 may be needed based on the bendtolerance specification of the particular fiber cables used.

The mandrel 120, the guides 126, and the fingers 122, 128 are configuredto route fiber cables in a safe and organized manner. The mandrel 120and the guides 126 define a plurality of curved channels for receivingthe fiber cables. The curved channels defined by the mandrel 120 and theguides 126 can have specific radii that do not allow the fiber cables tobend more than the specification of the fiber cable allows, therebyminimizing bend loss within fiber cables. Thus, the mandrel 120 and theguides 122 provide a convenient and organized way to route the fibercables through the carriage 100 and to maintain the fiber cable signalintegrity.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-7, each of the openings 110 at the front end102 of the carriage 100 may be delimited by the back wall 114, a pair ofside walls 115, and a top wall 117. In some aspects, the side walls 115may extend from the back wall 114 to the top wall 117. In other aspects,one or more of the side walls 115 may extend only part of the way fromthe back wall 114 toward the top wall 117. The top wall 116 may includea plurality of slots 130, with each one of the plurality of slots 130being associated with a respective one of the openings 110. The slots130 are sufficiently wide to allow a fiber cable of a patch cable to beinserted into and/or removed from the opening through the slot 130,while being sufficiently narrow to prevent a splitter or an adapter inthe opening 110 from being inserted into and/or removed from the opening110 through the slot 130.

The carriage 100 may include a second top wall 119 including a pluralityof tabs 134 that are spaced from the front end 102 in a first directionparallel to the plane of the back wall 114 and spaced from the back wall114 in a second direction perpendicular to the plane of the back wall114. The tabs 134 are separated from one another by spaces 136 that aresized and configured to allow a fiber cable of a patch cable to beinserted into and/or removed from the opening through the slot 130,while being sufficiently narrow to prevent a splitter or an adapter inthe opening 110 from being inserted into and/or removed from the opening110 through the slot 130. The tabs 134 are configured to cooperate withthe side walls 115 to securely retain an optical fiber component, forexample, a splitter, that is inserted into the cavity 112 through one ofthe openings 110. In some aspects, one or more of the side walls 115 mayinclude an engagement structure (not shown) that is configured to engagean engagement structure on a splitter (see FIG. 13) that is insertedinto the cavity 112 through one of the openings 110, as would beunderstood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

In some embodiments, the first side 106 may include one or more springlocking clips 140 configured to couple the carriage 100 with a key slotin a wall of a cabinet. The second side 108 may include a grippingstructure 142 that facilitates insertion and/or removal of the carriage100 into/from a cabinet or enclosure. For example, the grippingstructure 142 may include a wall 144 that has a thickness that is lessthan a depth of the carriage 100 such that a user can grip the grippingstructure 142 with his/her fingers when a plurality of carriages 100 arearranged in close proximity to one another in the cabinet. In someaspects, the gripping structure 142 may include a surface having aseries of ridges 146 or knurls that facilitate gripping by the user.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a first exemplary use configuration of thecarriage 100 is illustrated and described. In the embodiment of FIG. 2,a plurality of fiber optic adapters 250, for example LC duplex adapters,are inserted into the openings 110 at the front end 102 of the carriage100. FIG. 2 shows six adapters 250 inserted into six of the openings110. The seventh opening 110′ receives twelve fiber patch cables 260that enter the carriage 100 at the front end 102, are directed towardthe rear end 104, and are guided around the mandrel 120. The fiber patchcables 260 are guided by the mandrel 120, the guides 126, and/or one ofthe walls of the carriage 100 back toward the front end 102 of thecarriage 100. Each of the fiber patch cables 260 has a first endterminated with a fiber optic connector 262, for example, an LCconnector, which is connected to a rear side 252 of the fiber opticadaptors 250. A second end (not shown) of the each of the fiber patchcables 260 may include a connector (not shown) that is configured to beconnected to another fiber optic component, for example, in the cabinetwithin which the carriage 100 is disposed.

As illustrated, twelve simplex LC cables 260 are connected to six LCduplex adaptors 250. In other embodiments, six duplex cables can beconnected to the six LC duplex adapters. It should be appreciated thatSC cables and adapters can be used in place of one or more of the LCcables and adapters. In fact, the principle of this embodiment would bepossible with any type of adaptor and cable subject to box design, boxsize, and aperture shape (for the adaptor), such as, for example, MPOconnectors.

Because the patch cables 260 and the bulkhead adapters 250 are disposedat the front end 102 of the carriage, there is no need to access therear of the patch panel/field in order to make rear bulkheadconnections. Instead, all connection ports are accessible from one side,i.e., the front end 102, of the carriage 100, which makes it easier fora technician to make moves, additions, and changes.

As will be described in more detail below, the carriage 100 can be usedin a data center server cabinet and occupy “zero space” in the rack orchassis that is disposed in the cabinet. The carriage 100 can be used inany FTTX any application requiring patch cable connections from oneside. For example, the carriage 100 can be used in wall-mounted cabinetswhere cables enter and exit from the bottom only, pole mountedapplications where cables enter or exit from one side only, and/orstreet cabinet applications where the patch field needs to be managed intight space-limited areas or in the upper corner of the cabinet.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a second exemplary use configuration of thecarriage 100 is illustrated and described. The configuration of FIG. 3is only different from that of FIG. 2 in that a multi-fiber harness 364,for example, a twelve fiber harness, which includes twelve LC simplexcables 360, is inserted into the seventh opening 110′. The harness 364may facilitate quicker installation by a technician than the twelveseparate patch cables of the configuration of FIG. 2. The fiber cables360 are guided by the mandrel 120, the guides 126, and/or one of thewalls of the carriage 100 back toward the front end 102 of the carriage100. Each of the fiber cables 360 has a first end terminated with afiber optic connector 362, for example, an LC connector, which isconnected to a rear side 252 of the bulkhead adaptors 250. The harness364 may include a multi-fiber cable 366 that extends out through theseventh opening 110′ and is configured to be connected to another fiberoptic component, for example, in the cabinet within which the carriage100 is disposed.

As illustrated, twelve simplex LC cables are connected to six LC duplexadaptors. In other embodiments, the harness 364 may include six unibootLC cores configured to be connected to the six LC duplex adapters. Itshould be appreciated that SC cables and adapters can be used in placeof one or more of the LC cables and adapters. In fact, the principle ofthis embodiment would be possible with any type of adaptor and cablesubject to box design, box size, and aperture shape (for the adaptor).

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a third exemplary use configuration ofthe carriage 100 is illustrated and described. In the configuration ofFIGS. 4 and 5, preconnectorized splitter modules 450 are inserted intothe openings 110 at the front end 102 of the carriage 100. FIG. 4 showssix fiber optic splitter modules 450 inserted into six of the openings110. The splitter modules 450 include input fiber cables 452 that areguided by the mandrel 120, the guides 126, and/or one of the walls ofthe carriage 100 back toward the back end 104 of the carriage 100 andaround the mandrel 120 toward the front end 102 of the carriage 100where they can exit the carriage 100 via the seventh opening 110′. Theinput fiber cables 452 may each include a boot 453 configured to providestrain relief to the cables 452 at an interface with the splitter module450.

The input cables 452 each include an end, distal from the splittermodule 450, having a fiber optic connector (not shown) that isconfigured to be connected to another fiber optic component, forexample, in the cabinet within which the carriage 100 is disposed. Thepreconnectorized splitter modules 450 includes output fiber cables 456that have an end (not shown), distal from the splitter module 450,having a fiber optic connector (not shown) that is configured to beconnected to another fiber optic component, for example, in the cabinetwithin which the carriage 100 is disposed.

The slots 130 at the front end of the carriage 100 and spaces 136between tabs 134 permit the input cables 452 of the splitter modules 450to be inserted into the cavity 112 to be guided by the mandrel 120 andthe guides 126. For example, the output fiber cables 456 of one of thesplitters 450 can be inserted through the openings 130 and spaces 136with the splitter module 450 toward the rear end 104 of the carriage100. After the output fiber cables 456 are in the opening 110, thesplitter 450 can be moved toward the front end 102 and into the opening110. As mentioned above, the side walls 115 may be configured tosecurely retain the splitter modules 450 in the carriage 100.

According to this configuration, splitter modules 450 can be addedand/removed one at a time. Thus, in the case of a problem with an enduser associated with one of the output cables 456, only one of thesplitter bodies 454 would need to be removed and/or replaced, and thusonly a fraction of the end users serviced by the carriage 100 would beaffected during the removal and/or replacement.

Referring to FIG. 13, the splitter modules 450 include a splitter body451, one or more splitters 454, a forward wall 455, a rear wall 456, anda cover 457. The splitter body 451 may include an engagement feature 458configured to be coupled with an engagement feature of at least one ofthe side walls 115 of the openings 110. For example, the engagementfeature 458 may comprise a flexible finger and a projection. Theflexible finger is configured to be urged inward when the splittermodule 450 is inserted into the opening, and the projection serves as astop to limit insertion of the module 450 into the opening. In someaspect, the engagement feature of the side wall 115 may be configured tobe received between the finger and the projection, and the side wall 115may be configured to allow the finger to flex back outward to retain theengagement feature of the side wall between the finger and theprojection.

The forward wall 455 may include one or more ports configured to receivea fiber input cable 465, and the rear wall 456 may be removable from thesplitter body 451. The rear wall 456 may include a plurality of openingseach configured to receive an output fiber cable 466. The fiber inputcables 465 and fiber output cables 466 may be furcation cables (orfurcation tubes) configured to receive an optical fiber, and the opticalfibers are spliced to the splitter 454.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, in some aspects, each splitter module 450 mayinclude two splitters 454, and each splitter may be configured as a 1:8splitter having one input fiber 465 and eight output fibers 466. Ofcourse, in some aspects, the splitter module 450 may include onesplitter configured as a 1:16 splitter. It should be appreciated thatthe splitter modules 450 may contain any other conceivable arrangementof one or more splitters, and the splitters may have higher or lowersplitter ratios than 1:8 and 1:16.

Referring to FIG. 14, for a carriage 100 having one or more largeropenings 110, a larger splitter module 450′ may be inserted into thelarger opening. In some aspects, each splitter module 450′ may includefour splitters 454, and each splitter may be configured as a 1:8splitter having one input fiber and eight output fibers. Of course, insome aspects, the splitter module 450 may include one splitterconfigured as a 1:32 splitter, two splitters configured as 1:16splitters, etc. It should be appreciated that the splitter modules 450′may contain any other conceivable arrangement of one or more splitters,and the splitters may have higher or lower splitter ratios.

As shown in FIG. 15, one or more of the aforementioned splitter modules450, 450′ may be coupled with a panel 590 of a fiber distribution hubindependent of the carriage 100. For example, a splitter holder 570 maybe configured to be coupled to the panel, for example, via fasteners orthe like. The splitter holder 570 may include arms 571 configured toreceive and hold the splitter modules 450, 450′.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the aforementionedsplitter modules 450, 450′ may configured to be used in a mannerunattached from the carriage 100 and the panel. As shown in FIG. 16, thesplitter module 450, 450′ may include a preconnectorized input fibercable 552 and a multi-fiber output cable 566 having a breakout 567 thatbreaks out the fibers of the output fiber cable 566 to a plurality ofpre-connectorized output fiber cables 569.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a fourth exemplary use configuration of thecarriage 100 is illustrated and described. In the configuration of FIG.6, a patch cable 660 is inserted into the openings 110 at the front end102 of the carriage 100. FIG. 2 shows only one patch cable inserted intoone of the openings 110. However, it should be appreciated than anynumber of patch cables 660 can be inserted into the openings 110 and thecavity 112, limited only by the size of the openings 110 and thecarriage 100. The patch cable 660 is guided by the mandrel 120, at leastone of the guides 126, and/or one of the walls of the carriage 100 backtoward the back end 104 of the carriage 100 and around the mandrel 120toward the front end 102 of the carriage 100 where they can exit thecarriage 100 via another one of the openings 110. The slots 130 at thefront end of the carriage 100 and spaces 136 between tabs 134 permit thepatch cable 660 to be inserted into the openings 110 and into the cavity112 to be guided by the mandrel 120 and the guides 126.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, there is no connectivity inside thecarriage 100, but instead the carriage 100 is only used as a method ofhanging patch cables 660. The patch cables 660 can be hung in the sameway that the splitter is so that the cable management is much easierinside of the cabinet. No complex cable management is required insidecabinet for an installer to follow. This arrangement is useful for anyapplication requiring a patch cable to be hung inside a cabinet so thatthe two individual connectorized ends 666 can be connected to twodifferent ports.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a fifth exemplary use configuration of thecarriage 100 is illustrated and described. In the configuration of FIG.7, preconnectorized splitter modules 450 are inserted into some of theopenings 110 at the front end 102 of the carriage 100. FIG. 7 shows fourfiber optic splitter modules 450 inserted into four of the openings 110.The splitter modules 450 include input fiber cables 452 that are guidedby the mandrel 120, the guides 126, and/or one of the walls of thecarriage 100 back toward the back end 104 of the carriage 100 and aroundthe mandrel 120 toward the front end 102 of the carriage 100 where theyhave ends that are terminated with a connector 462, for example, an LCconnector, which is connected to a rear side 252 of fiber optic adaptors250, which are received by openings 110′ at the first end 102 of thecarriage 100. FIG. 7 shows two bulkhead adapters 250, for example, LCduplex adapters, inserted into two of the openings 110′.

It should be appreciated that the universal nature of the carriage 100permits the carriage 100 to include any combination of adapters 250,patch cables 260, harnesses 364, splitter modules 450, and/or patchcables 660 desired by a customer. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, thecarriage 100 may include four splitter modules 450 and one patch cable660. The number and size of these elements are only limited by the sizeand configuration of the carriage 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-12, arrangement of the carriage 100 in a fiberdistribution cabinet 980 is illustrated and described. FIG. 9illustrates a typical fiber distribution cabinet 980, and the carriage100 is mounted in the cabinet 980 in a vertical orientation. That is,the carriage 100 is mounted with the front end 102 facing downward, therear end 104 facing upward, the first side 106 facing a rear wall 982 ofthe cabinet 980, and the second side 108 facing a front 984 of thecabinet, which may be closed by a door 986. As shown, the carriage 100is used for a point-to-point (P2P) patch cable connection, similar tothat shown in FIG. 6. That is, one end of the patch cable 660 isconnected to a Feeder Optical Distribution Frame (ODF), i.e., where thesignal is coming from the Head-end/Central Office, and the other end isconnected to a Distribution ODF, which is where the signal is being sentto end users.

FIG. 10 illustrates a plurality of the carriages 100 mounted in theupper right hand corner of a fiber cabinet in the vertical orientationand in a zero U-space of the cabinet. For example, the one or morespring locking clips 140 may be coupled with key slot(s) on the backwall 982 of the cabinet 980. The carriages 100 may be configuredaccording to one of the aforementioned exemplary configurations or withany other desired configuration. FIG. 10 illustrates eight carriages100. If the carriages 100 are configured as shown in FIG. 4, whichincludes six splitter modules 450, the eight carriages 100 would includea total of 48 splitter modules 450. Each splitter module 450 may includetwo splitters 454, each of which includes a 1:8 splitter, a 1:16splitter, etc., as described above.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate another zero U-space mounting position ofthe carriage 100 in a cabinet. Zero U-space is a term used when patchpanels are fixed somewhere other than between the intended fixing railsof a rack chassis. In this respect, the patch panel occupies no valuablespace inside the rack chassis and, thus, the space in the rack chassiscan be used for revenue generating servers or switches. Therefore, thecarriage can be used for fitting inside standard cabinets that have notbeen adapted to accept this box, i.e. does not have key slots configuredto receive the locking clips 140. For example, in this arrangement, afolded metal plate could be fixed to the standard fixing rail of therack chassis (behind equipment fixings) and then has a shape which willallow the box to be fixed to the plate. Slots in the rear plate of thebracket would facilitate this arrangement. Referring now to FIG. 12, itshould be appreciated that the carriage 100 can also be mounted to a19″, 21″, or 23″ panel, either vertically or horizontally stacked.

It should be appreciated that, in some aspects, the carriage 100 may bepreconnected to and packaged with a fiber optic panel for delivery to anend user. For example, the carriage 100 may be populated with one ormore preconfigured splitter modules 450, 450′ prior to being provided toan end user. Each splitter module 450 may include one or more fiberinput cables and a plurality of fiber output cables based on the one ormore splitters contained in the splitter module. Each of the fiberoutput cables may be pre-connectorized and inserted into a port of thefiber optic panel, and each of the fiber input cables may bepre-connectorized so that upon delivery to an end user location, onlythe fiber input cables need to be coupled with an adapter port in orderto provide input signals to the splitter modules 450, 450′.

Additional embodiments include any one of the embodiments describedabove, where one or more of its components, functionalities orstructures is interchanged with, replaced by or augmented by one or moreof the components, functionalities, or structures of a differentembodiment described above.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to theembodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishingits intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes andmodifications be covered by the appended claims.

Although several embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed inthe foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in theart that many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure willcome to mind to which the disclosure pertains, having the benefit of theteaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings.It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specificembodiments disclosed herein above, and that many modifications andother embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein,as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a genericand descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the presentdisclosure, nor the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carriage configured to be mounted in a fiberdistribution cabinet, the carriage comprising: a carriage body having afront end, a rear end, a first side, a second side, and a back wallcooperating to define a cavity; a top wall at the front end of thecarriage body; a plurality of side walls extending from the back wall tothe top wall; wherein the top wall, the side walls, and the back walldefine a plurality of openings at the front end of the carriage body;wherein the top wall includes a plurality of slots, each the pluralityof slots being associated with a respective one of the plurality ofopenings; wherein the plurality of openings are sized and configured toreceive a fiber optic component; and wherein the slots are sized andconfigured to allow fiber optic cables to be inserted into and/orremoved from the opening through the slot, while preventing the fiberoptic component from being inserted into and/or removed from the openingthrough the slot.
 2. The carriage of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofopenings are sized and configured to receive a fiber optic splitter or afiber optic adapter.
 3. The carriage of claim 2, wherein the carriage issized to receive an LC duplex adapter or an SC simplex adapter.
 4. Thecarriage of claim 1, wherein the cavity is configured to receive fiberoptic cables and/or fiber optic components.
 5. The carriage of claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of fiber management features extendingperpendicular to the plane of the back wall and being disposed in thecavity, the plurality of fiber management features being configured toroute fiber cables to and from the front end of the carriage.
 6. Thecarriage of claim 1, wherein the opening is configured to receive thefiber optic component in a direction from the rear end of the carriagetoward the front end of the carriage.
 7. The carriage of claim 1,wherein the opening is configured to receive the fiber optic componentin a direction from the front end of the carriage toward the rear end ofthe carriage.
 8. A carriage configured to be mounted in a fiberdistribution cabinet, the carriage comprising: a carriage body having afront end, a rear end, a first side, a second side, and a back wallcooperating to define a cavity; a top wall at the front end of thecarriage body; a plurality of side walls extending from the back wall tothe top wall; a second top wall spaced from the front end in a firstdirection parallel to a plane of the back wall; wherein the top wall,the side walls, and the back wall define a plurality of openings at thefront end of the carriage body; wherein the top wall includes aplurality of slots, each the plurality of slots being associated with arespective one of the plurality of openings; wherein the plurality ofopenings are sized and configured to receive a fiber optic component;wherein the second top wall includes a plurality of tabs spaced from theback wall in a second direction perpendicular to the plane of the backwall; and wherein the tabs are separated from one another by spaces thatare sized and configured to allow fiber optic cables to be inserted intoand/or removed from the opening through the slot, while preventing thefiber optic component from being inserted into and/or removed from theopening through the slot.
 9. The carriage of claim 8, wherein second topwall is configured to cooperate with the side walls to securely retainthe optical fiber component that is inserted into the cavity through oneof the openings.
 10. A carriage configured to be mounted in a fiberdistribution cabinet, the carriage comprising: a carriage body having afront end, a rear end, a first side, a second side, and a back wallcooperating to define a cavity; a top wall at the front end of thecarriage body; a plurality of side walls configured to extend from theback wall to the top wall; wherein the top wall, the side walls, and theback wall are configured to define a plurality of openings at the frontend of the carriage body; wherein the top wall includes a plurality ofslots that are each configured to be associated with a respective one ofthe plurality of openings; wherein an opening portion of each of theplurality of openings is sized and configured to receive a fiber opticcomponent; and wherein a slot portion of each of the slots is sized andconfigured to allow a fiber optic cable to be inserted into and/orremoved from being received by the opening portion through the slotportion, while preventing the fiber optic component from being insertedinto and/or removed from being received by the opening portion throughthe slot portion.
 11. The carriage of claim 10, wherein the fiber opticcomponent comprises a fiber optic splitter or a fiber optic adapter. 12.The carriage of claim 11, wherein the carriage is configured to receivean LC duplex adapter or an SC simplex adapter.
 13. The carriage of claim10, wherein the cavity is configured to receive fiber optic cablesand/or fiber optic components.
 14. The carriage of claim 10, furthercomprising: a plurality of fiber management features that are configuredto extend perpendicular to the plane of the back wall and be disposed inthe cavity; and wherein the plurality of fiber management features isconfigured to route fiber cables to and from the front end of thecarriage.
 15. The carriage of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality ofopenings is configured to receive the fiber optic component in adirection that extends away from the rear end of the carriage and towardthe front end of the carriage.
 16. The carriage of claim 10, wherein theopening is configured to receive the fiber optic component in adirection that extends away from the front end of the carriage andtoward the rear end of the carriage.
 17. The carriage of claim 10,further comprising: a second top wall that is configured to be spacedfrom the front end in a first direction parallel to a plane of the backwall.
 18. The carriage of claim 17, wherein the second top wall includesa plurality of tabs that are each spaced from the back wall in a seconddirection that extends perpendicular to the plane of the back wall. 19.The carriage of claim 18, wherein each of the tabs are separated fromone another by spaces that are sized and configured to allow fiber opticcables to be inserted into and/or removed from the opening portionthrough the slot portion, while preventing the fiber optic componentfrom being inserted into and/or removed from the opening portion throughthe slot portion.
 20. The carriage of claim 17, wherein second top wallis configured to cooperate with at least one of the side walls tosecurely retain the optical fiber component that is inserted into thecavity through at least one of the openings.
 21. The carriage of claim10, wherein the opening portion of each of the plurality of openings issized and configured to receive the fiber optic component insertedtherethrough.
 22. A carriage for use in a fiber distribution cabinet,the carriage comprising: a carriage body having a front end and a backwall; a top wall at the front end of the carriage body; a plurality ofside walls that are each configured to extend from the back wall to thetop wall; wherein the top wall, the side walls, and the back wall areconfigured to define a plurality of opening portions; wherein the topwall includes a plurality of slot portions that are each configured tobe associated with a respective one of the plurality of openingportions; and wherein each of slot portions are sized and configured toallow fiber optic cables to be inserted into and/or removed from arespective one of the plurality of opening portions through acorresponding slot portion, while preventing a fiber optic componentfrom being inserted into and/or removed from the respective one of theplurality of opening portions through the corresponding slot portion.23. The carriage of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of openingportions is configured to receive a fiber optic splitter or a fiberoptic adapter.
 24. The carriage of claim 23, wherein the carriage issized to receive an LC duplex adapter or an SC simplex adapter.
 25. Thecarriage of claim 22, wherein the carriage body includes a cavity thatis configured to receive fiber optic cables and/or fiber opticcomponents.
 26. The carriage of claim 25, further comprising: aplurality of fiber management features that are each configured toextend perpendicular to the plane of the back wall and be disposed inthe cavity; and wherein each of the plurality of fiber managementfeatures is configured to route fiber cables to and from the front endof the carriage.
 27. The carriage of claim 22, wherein each of theplurality of opening portions is configured to receive the fiber opticcomponent in a direction that extends from a rear end of the carriagetowards the front end of the carriage.
 28. The carriage of claim 22,wherein each of the plurality of opening portions is configured toreceive the fiber optic component in a direction that extends from thefront end of the carriage towards a rear end of the carriage.
 29. Thecarriage of claim 22, further comprising: a second top wall that isconfigured to be spaced from the front end in a first direction thatextends parallel to a plane of the back wall.
 30. The carriage of claim29, wherein the second top wall includes a plurality of tab portionsthat are each spaced from the back wall in a second directionperpendicular to the plane of the back wall.
 31. The carriage of claim30, wherein each of the plurality of tab portions are separated from oneanother by spaces that are each sized and configured to allow a fiberoptic cable to be inserted into and/or removed from a respective openingportion through a corresponding slot portion, while preventing the fiberoptic component from being inserted into and/or removed from therespective opening portion through the corresponding slot portion. 32.The carriage of claim 29, wherein the second top wall is configured tocooperate with at least one of the side walls so as to securely retainthe optical fiber component that is inserted into the cavity through oneof the opening portions.
 33. The carriage of claim 22, wherein theplurality of opening portions are located at the front end of thecarriage body.
 34. A carriage for use in a fiber distribution cabinet,the carriage comprising: a carriage body having a front end, a rear end,a first side, a second side, and a back wall configured to cooperate soas to define a cavity; a top wall at the front end of the carriage body;a plurality of side walls configured to extend from the back wall to thetop wall; a second top wall configured to be spaced from the front endin a first direction that extends parallel to a plane of the back wall;wherein the top wall, the side walls, and the back wall are configuredto cooperatively define a plurality of opening portions at the front endof the carriage body; wherein the top wall includes a plurality of slotportions that are each configured to be associated with a respective oneof the plurality of opening portions; wherein each of the plurality ofopening portions is configured to receive a fiber optic component;wherein the second top wall includes a plurality of tab portions thatare each spaced from the back wall in a second direction that extendsperpendicular to the plane of the back wall; and wherein each of theplurality of tab portions is separated from one another by spaceportions that are each sized and configured to allow at least one fiberoptic cable to be inserted into and/or removed from one of the openingportions through a corresponding one of the slot portions, whilepreventing the fiber optic component from being inserted into and/orremoved from the one of the opening portions through the correspondingone of the slot portions.
 35. The carriage of claim 34, wherein thefiber optic component comprises a fiber optic splitter or a fiber opticadapter.
 36. The carriage of claim 35, wherein the carriage is sized toreceive an LC duplex adapter or an SC simplex adapter.
 37. The carriageof claim 34, wherein the cavity is configured to receive fiber opticcables and/or fiber optic components.
 38. The carriage of claim 34,further comprising: a plurality of fiber management features that areeach configured to extend perpendicular to the plane of the back walland be disposed in the cavity; and wherein each of the plurality offiber management features is configured to route fiber cables to andfrom the front end of the carriage.
 39. The carriage of claim 34,wherein each of the opening portions is configured to receive the fiberoptic component in a direction that extends from the rear end of thecarriage and towards the front end of the carriage.
 40. The carriage ofclaim 34, wherein each of the opening portions is configured to receivethe fiber optic component in a direction that extends from the front endof the carriage and towards the rear end of the carriage.
 41. Thecarriage of claim 34, wherein the second top wall is configured tocooperate with the side walls so as to securely retain the optical fibercomponent that is inserted into the cavity through one of the openingportions.
 42. A carriage for use with a fiber distribution cabinet, thecarriage comprising: a carriage body having a front end and a back wall;a top wall at the front end of the carriage body; a plurality of sidewalls that are each configured to extend from the back wall to the topwall; a second top wall configured to be spaced from the front endrelative to a first direction that extends parallel to a plane of theback wall; wherein the top wall, the side walls, and the back wall areconfigured to define a plurality of opening portions; wherein the topwall includes a plurality of slot portions; wherein the second top wallincludes a plurality of tab portions spaced from the back wall in asecond direction that extends substantially perpendicular to the planeof the back wall; and wherein the tab portions are configured to beseparated from one another by space portions that are each sized andconfigured to allow a fiber optic cable to be inserted into and/orremoved from one of the opening portions through a corresponding slotportion, while preventing the fiber optic component from being insertedinto and/or removed from the one opening portion through thecorresponding slot portion.
 43. The carriage of claim 42, wherein eachof the plurality of openings is sized and configured to receive a fiberoptic splitter or a fiber optic adapter.
 44. The carriage of claim 43,wherein the carriage is sized to receive an LC duplex adapter or an SCsimplex adapter.
 45. The carriage of claim 42, wherein the carriage bodyincludes a cavity configured to receive fiber optic cables and/or fiberoptic components.
 46. The carriage of claim 45, further comprising: aplurality of fiber management features that are each configured toextend perpendicular to a plane of the back wall and be disposed in atleast a portion of the cavity; wherein each of the plurality of fibermanagement features is configured to route fiber cables to and from thefront end of the carriage.
 47. The carriage of claim 42, wherein each ofthe slot portions is sized and configured to allow a fiber optic cableto be inserted into and/or removed from one of the opening portionsthrough the corresponding slot portion, while preventing the fiber opticcomponent from being inserted into and/or removed from the one of theopening portions through the corresponding slot portion.
 48. Thecarriage of claim 42, wherein each of the plurality of opening portionsis configured to receive the fiber optic component in a direction thatextends from a rear end of the carriage and towards the front end of thecarriage.
 49. The carriage of claim 42, wherein each of the plurality ofopening portions is configured to receive the fiber optic component in adirection that extends from the front end of the carriage and towards arear end of the carriage.
 50. The carriage of claim 42, wherein thesecond top wall is configured to cooperate with the side walls so as tosecurely retain the optical fiber component that is inserted into thecavity through one of the openings.
 51. The carriage of claim 42,wherein the plurality of opening portions are located at the front endof the carriage body.
 52. A carriage for use with a fiber distributioncabinet, the carriage comprising: a carriage body having a front end, arear end, a first side, a second side, and a back wall cooperating todefine a cavity; a top wall located at the front end of the carriagebody; a plurality of side walls that are each configured to extend fromthe back wall to the top wall; wherein the top wall, the side walls, andthe back wall are configured to define a plurality of opening portionsat the front end of the carriage body; wherein the top wall includes aplurality of top wall portions that are configured such that each twoadjacent ones of the top wall portions are separated by a slot portionand such that each slot portion is associated with a respective one ofthe plurality of opening portions; and wherein each of the plurality ofopening portions is sized and configured to receive a fiber opticcomponent.
 53. The carriage of claim 52, wherein each of the pluralityof opening portions is sized and configured to receive a fiber opticsplitter or a fiber optic adapter.
 54. The carriage of claim 53, whereinthe carriage is sized to receive an LC duplex adapter or an SC simplexadapter.
 55. The carriage of claim 52, wherein the cavity is configuredto receive fiber optic cables and/or fiber optic components.
 56. Thecarriage of claim 52, further comprising: a fiber management featurethat is configured to extend perpendicular to the plane of the back walland be disposed in at least a portion of the cavity; and wherein thefiber management feature is configured to route fiber cables to and fromthe front end of the carriage.
 57. The carriage of claim 52, whereineach of the slot portions is sized and configured to allow a fiber opticcable to be inserted into and/or removed from one of the openingportions through a corresponding slot portion, while preventing thefiber optic component from being inserted into and/or removed from theone of the opening portions through the corresponding slot portion. 58.The carriage of claim 52, wherein each of the plurality of openingportions is configured to receive the fiber optic component in adirection that extends from the rear end of the carriage and towards thefront end of the carriage.
 59. The carriage of claim 52, wherein each ofthe plurality of opening portions is configured to receive the fiberoptic component in a direction that extends from the front end of thecarriage and towards the rear end of the carriage.
 60. The carriage ofclaim 52, further comprising: a second top wall spaced from the frontend in a first direction parallel to a plane of the back wall.
 61. Thecarriage of claim 60, wherein the second top wall includes a pluralityof tabs spaced from the back wall in a second direction perpendicular tothe plane of the back wall.
 62. The carriage of claim 61, wherein eachof the tab portions is configured to be separated from one another by aspace portion that is sized and configured to allow fiber optic cablesto be inserted into and/or removed from one of the opening portionsthrough a corresponding slot portion, while preventing the fiber opticcomponent from being inserted into and/or removed from the one of theopening portions through the corresponding slot portion.
 63. Thecarriage of claim 60, wherein the second top wall is configured tocooperate with the side walls so as to securely retain the optical fibercomponent that is inserted into the cavity through one of the openingportions.
 64. A carriage for a fiber distribution cabinet, comprising: abody portion configured to define a plurality of openings and aplurality of slots such that each of the plurality of slots areassociated with a respective one of the plurality of openings; whereinat least one of the plurality of openings is sized and configured toreceive a fiber optic component; and wherein each respective one of theplurality of slots is sized and configured to allow a fiber optic cableto be inserted through at least a portion of a respective one of theplurality of openings, while preventing the fiber optic component frombeing able to be inserted through at least a portion of both therespective one of the plurality of openings, and the each respective oneof the plurality of slots during operation of the carriage.
 65. Thecarriage of claim 64, wherein the body portion includes a front end, arear end, a first side, a second side, and a back wall cooperating todefine a cavity.
 66. The carriage of claim 65, further comprising a topwall located at the front end of the body portion.
 67. The carriage ofclaim 66, further comprising a plurality of side walls extending fromthe back wall to the top wall.
 68. The carriage of claim 67, wherein thetop wall, the side walls, and the back wall define the plurality ofopenings.
 69. The carriage of claim 68, wherein each of the plurality ofopenings is located at the front end of the body portion.
 70. Thecarriage of claim 69, wherein the top wall includes the plurality ofslots.
 71. A carriage for a fiber distribution cabinet comprising: abody portion configured to define an opening portion and a slot portionthat is associated with the opening portion; wherein the opening portionis sized and configured to receive an optical fiber component; andwherein the slot portion is sized and configured to allow a portion ofan optical fiber cable to be inserted through the opening portion, whilepreventing the optical fiber component from being able to be insertedthrough at least a portion of both the opening portion, and the slotportion during operation of the carriage.
 72. The carriage of claim 71,wherein the body portion includes a front end, a rear end, a first side,a second side, and a back wall cooperating to define a cavity.
 73. Thecarriage of claim 72, further comprising a top wall located at the frontend of the body portion.
 74. The carriage of claim 73, furthercomprising a plurality of side walls extending from the back wall to thetop wall.
 75. The carriage of claim 74, wherein the opening portioncomprises a plurality of opening portions.
 76. The carriage of claim 75,wherein the slot portion comprises a plurality of slot portions.
 77. Thecarriage of claim 76, wherein the top wall, the side walls, and the backwall define the plurality of opening portions.
 78. The carriage of claim77, wherein each of the plurality of openings is located at a front endof the body portion.
 79. The carriage of claim 78, wherein the top wallincludes the plurality of slot portions.
 80. A carriage for a fiberdistribution cabinet comprising: a body portion configured to define anoptical fiber component receiving portion and an optical fiber cablereceiving portion that is associated with the optical fiber componentreceiving portion; wherein the optical fiber component receiving portionis sized and configured to receive an optical fiber component; andwherein the optical fiber cable receiving portion is sized andconfigured to receive a portion of an optical fiber cable that has beeninserted through the optical fiber component receiving portion, whilepreventing the optical fiber component from being received through atleast a portion of both the optical fiber component receiving portion,or the optical fiber cable receiving portion during operation of thecarriage.
 81. The carriage of claim 80, wherein the optical fibercomponent receiving portion comprises an opening portion.
 82. Thecarriage of claim 81, wherein the optical fiber cable receiving portioncomprises a slot portion.
 83. The carriage of claim 82, wherein the bodyportion includes a front end, a rear end, a first side, a second side,and a back wall cooperating to define a cavity.
 84. The carriage ofclaim 83, further comprising a top wall located at the front end of thebody portion.
 85. The carriage of claim 84, further comprising aplurality of side walls extending from the back wall to the top wall.86. The carriage of claim 85, wherein the opening portion comprises aplurality of opening portions.
 87. The carriage of claim 86, wherein theslot portion comprises a plurality of slot portions.
 88. The carriage ofclaim 87, wherein the top wall, the side walls, and the back wall definethe plurality of opening portions.
 89. The carriage of claim 88, whereineach of the plurality of openings is located at a front end of the bodyportion.
 90. The carriage of claim 89, wherein the top wall includes theplurality of slot portions.